New rules aimed at satisfying Second Street residents’ complaints over Mo’s Pub were unanimously approved by the Langley City Council.

Brief discussion preceded the vote, with Jeff Arango, Langley’s planning director, urging the council to approve the amendments. His department and the city’s Planning Advisory Board spent the past several months working on amendments to the commercial development adjacent to single family resident zoning. In December, the planning board and Arango made their final changes and sent the recommendations to the council.

“The city spent several months working on this, we vetted it with all the appropriate stakeholder groups,” said Arango, adding that the rules were more predictable and fair.

“Everyone gains by this.”

Arango made the recommendation to limit lounges to 500 square feet, but the planning board added language to allow for larger lounges in restaurants larger than 2,500 square feet.

“Most places won’t be above 2,500 square feet, but if it was that would allow for some flexibility,” Arango said.

Live, amplified music will be allowed six times per year. Any live, amplified music in city limits has to receive a permit authorized by the city council. Five of those times are limited to 11 p.m., the sixth is reserved for New Year’s Eve, which may last until 1 a.m.

“I don’t see how that’s excessive,” said Councilman Bruce Allen.

The vote was approved 5-0 on Jan. 22.